Treatment Of Pediatric Cns Tumors In Armenia. 10 Years Of Experience In A 29 Years Old Resource-Limited Setting

Abstract BACKGROUND Pediatric CNS tumors are the most common solid childhood malignancies with many challenges facing optimal outcome due to multimodality complex therapies, abandonment, and long-term morbidity. In our three-decades young, country the field of neuro-oncology is in its infancy. MATERIALS: The aim of our study is to assess incidence, epidemiology and treatment outcomes of children diagnosed and treated with CNS tumors within the last 10 years (2009–2019) in the Chemotherapy Clinic of “Muratsan” Hospital Complex of Yerevan State Medical University. RESULTS During these periods 20 patients with CNS tumors were treated in our clinic. 13 patients (65%) were diagnosed with medulloblastoma (2 patients were infants), two patients (10%) with optic pathway glioma, and 5 patients each with pilocytic astrocytoma, ATRT, ETANTR, DIPG, and glioblastoma. Five patients (3 patients with medulloblastoma, 1 patient with pilocytic astrocytoma, 1 patient with ATRT) had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Seventeen patients (80%) had undergone surgery, 8 patients with medulloblastoma received chemo-RT with vincristine. Median follow up time was 15.5 months (range 5–94). Twelve patients (60%) are alive without evidence of disease. 5 patients had disease progression and three patients relapsed. From them, 3 patients died. Long-term survivors are mainly standard risk medulloblastoma patients. All medulloblastoma patients were treated according to HIT-MED guidelines. CONCLUSION Here we report about the pediatric brain tumors of one of the main pediatric oncology units in Armenia for a period of 10 years. The numbers are quite small for firm conclusions, but it shows the emerging need for further research.